Marques Colston starts camp on PUP list, Roman Harper doesn’t

Posted by Josh Alper on July 26, 2013, 10:11 AM EDT

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A report earlier this week indicated that three members of the Saints would start camp on the physically unable to perform list, which was correct in terms of the number of players but a bit off on their identities.

Safety Roman Harper was included alongside cornerback Patrick Robinson and linebacker Victor Butler as players headed to the PUP list, but the Saints made their official announcement on Friday and Harper, who had sports hernia surgery, wasn’t on the list. That doesn’t mean he’ll be practicing full speed or at all, but he’s free to do so while Robinson and Butler are not.

Neither is wide receiver Marques Colston. Coach Sean Payton said that Colston will miss a few days in order to rest his foot. Colston battled issues with his foot last season as well, but wound up playing all 16 games and catching 83 passes.

Robinson had his knee scoped and Payton said his progress has been “outstanding,” but he’s expected to miss a good portion of camp as he recovers. Butler tore his ACL during offseason workouts and may wind up missing the entire season.

Close to .500. Who knows…the season has to be played. And the Saints were given a tough schedule. That is why fans love the NFL. For the most part, any team can win any given Sunday.

But there is just as much reason to believe the Saints dominate the NFC South the same way they did for 5 straight years…until the NFL took away players, coaches, and introduced such distraction that I’d argue almost any team would have performed poorly.

The Saints basically have the same pieces on this team, if not better in many ways, as the team that lost in the closing seconds to the 9ers in the NFC Championship. So to expect mediocrity seems to me…wishful thinking from an opposing teams fan.

If you JUST use last year as your barometer, then you are foolish or an ignorant “hater” of any team not your own. Normal NFL fans recognize that Bounty Gate, although not completely manufactured, was not handled well and was an attempt by the NFL to scapegoat the Saints and create “proactive safety precedence” by the NFL for the very real pending lawsuits. Otherwise Tagliabue would not have stepped in at the 11th hour…and basically reversed everything Goodell put into place.

I’m a Saints fan. And I believe in my team 100%. We won’t win every game. But I know we have the ability, barring injury, to do just that.

cullenand99 says:Jul 26, 2013 11:32 AM

Marques Colston is criminally underrated, it’s kind of sad. He’s easily one of the best wide receivers in the league. The guy has gotten over 1,000 yards every year he’s been in the league, except one, and that was only because he missed 5 games due to injury. On top of his amazing production, he never complains. He works hard, stays humble, and isn’t a diva like a lot of the other top receivers are. Hopefully this year people realize what a beast he is and send him to the Pro Bowl, he definitely deserves it.

bigalhebdman says:Jul 26, 2013 12:24 PM

Marques was a 7th round draft pick who rose to the challenge in Drew Brees first year with the Saints, and has continuously PRODUCED good numbers without being an egotist. He is on his way to becoming the Saints all time leading receiver. He already leads in TDs scored. Would you ever know it from him? He is as humble as they come, and Saints fans love him for it. The way Brees spreads the ball around, he may never make the the all pro team, but he should.
And to “wwttww” the probable falcan’t fan, the real a’ints are you guys, like in “A’int never won a Super Bowl. Feel free to kiss Colston’s ring as it is as close as you will get.